This has been a slow but steady process, but this spring it became a reality: Beacon owns boys tennis in New York City. The Blue Demons won a fourth straight PSAL Class A title and claimed its second Mayor’s Cup in June, behind Wisconsin-bound senior Quinton Vega.

All-City boys tennis Player of the Year: Quinton Vega, Beacon

One of the nation’s top recruits, the Wisconsin-bound Vega, with sharp groundstrokes and a solid net game, enjoyed a memorable senior season. He dropped just one match in team competition and served as a mentor to the Blue Demons’ younger players, leading them to a fourth straight PSAL Class A crown and second Mayor’s Cup title in school history.

All-City boys tennis Coach of the Year: Bayard Faithfull, Beacon

Sure, he’s been blessed with talent, but it hasn’t always been that way at Beacon. Faithfull has established the Manhattan school as the premier boys tennis program in the city with his strict but understanding ways. He deserves credit for Beacon’s best season yet – a fourth straight PSAL Class A crown, second Mayor’s Cup title in a row and a championship at the New England Mid-Atlantic Tournament, featuring the best teams on the East Coast.

FIRST TEAM

David Arroyave, St. Francis Prep

The St. John’s bound Arroyave was a major part of the Terriers four straight CHSAA city titles and also reached the Mayor’s Cup individual final this spring, losing to Beacon’s Christian Waldron.

Stefan Ilic, Forest Hills

Headed to Stony Brook in the fall, Ilic has been a major part of the progression of the Forest Hills program, which went from four years two years ago to 10 this spring and a narrow, 3-2 loss to eventual PSAL Class A champion Beacon in the semifinals. Ilic went 12-2 this year, capping a memorable career.

Hugh Mo, Cardozo

The Judges top singles player, he will be competing in the summer Super National Clay courts and the Super National Hard Courts in Kalamazoo, Michigan, one of the most prestigious junior national tournaments in the country. The winner will receive automatic entry into the US Open this September. He enjoyed a stellar junior year, leading the Judges to the PSAL A1 division title and PSAL Class A semifinals.

Jake Sosonkin, Brooklyn Tech

Ranked 27th in the USTA”s 18-and-under Eastern Rankings, Sosonkin led the Engineers to the PSAL Class A finals, where they fell to Beacon. Interested in specializing in medicine, he went a combined 7-1 in league competition this spring and hopes to qualify for the Super National tournaments this summer.

Christian Waldron, Beacon

The individual Mayor’s cup champion came out of nowhere as the 10th seed to claim the crown. The rising senior will be Beacon’s leader last year and after a stellar season as its No. 2 singles player. In the Mayor’s Cup, he topped St. Francis Prep’s David Arroyave, 6-3, 6-4, for the crown.